The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1887-12-22
QUEER OCCUPATION.

AQUEER OCCUPATION.
The Successful Career Of an Ac-
ssss cident-Seeker.
It was with any thing but satisfac-
tion that found myself compelled.
few weeks ago, to make a nights
;onrney from Skanesville to Newton
Centres. The firm for which l travelled
was bent on opening up new terri
tory." an had sent me out as pioneer.
Skanesville had not developed any con-
siderable desire for our goods. and. as
It's alleged "best'' hotels offered a most
undesirable compound of food and
worse beds, determined to effect my
escape as soon as possible. To call
Skanesyille "cross-road town" would
be gross flattery, for if there is such a
Term rs "cross-ten-road town." then
GAINESVILLE IS entitled to that designa-
lion. 1t had been difficult place to
get to, but study of railroad guides
showed it even a more difficult place
to leave This was probably The prin-
cpal reason of the growth of the town
"a fact on which the Skanesvi.lites
we're given to boasting. Two trains
left this inland paradise daily, at the
convenient hours of 1130 p. m., and
i:25 d. m. To get to Newton-Centres.
4 Ifound | should have to change
three times ON the night train,
and four on the early morn
ing train. AS had two heavy
sample-trunks, chose the former. All
Ssanesville seemed to 60 to bed at
nine, SO, shortly after that hour, 1
\ went down to the depot, hoping to find
\ The ticket agent little livclier COM
panion. In this | was disappointed, as
|. hecombined the Office of station-master,
ticket-seller and porter. In the latter
capacity, he had shortly before wrestled
with my trunks, and, when he unhap-
PLY recognized me as their proprietor
= hecrushed severely all my attempts at
Il familiarity. So sat and smoked, and
" walked and smoked, till the train ar
" rred, which it naturally did about
lerty-fiye minutes late. A sleeping-car
R vas an unknown luxury on that road,
" 20 had the prospects of pleasant
sItup, varied by the numerous waits
n and changes in store for me. Fortu-
ately though the car was pretty well
y 1led, | found two unoccupied seats,
I md having had one turned over, pro-
~! eeeded to make myself as comfortable
~ spossible, and tried to catch a nap.
ny comparative ease was short-lived,
IeH lor at the next stopping-place several
ae5 people got on board, and though
tn pretended to be asleep, one unfeeling
DIV Individual came and sat himself or
s0 aeh portion of the front seat as my
aet left uncovered. / watched him
eo afeughmy almost closed eyelids. and
W not like his aspect. Something.
II % not know what, gave his counte
t. aaee sinister look. As he moved
at ward the seat. l noticed that III
i aaped slightly in his walk. There wa.
a'talnly a kind of what the Scotcl
sm an "uneasiness" about him, and
y s'er lew minutes l took my feet from
y v seat pretended to rouse up ant
ld ae samOled word Of apology abou
9 aAng up so much room. The stranger
irn Sgea me not to mention it, and sug
ss'ea that my feet did not inconven
nee him. The steady glare with whicl
seemed to be regarding me soon be
= sae 80 unpleasant that l proposed h,
b s'ald have the seat turned over, AM
: y avoid the disagreeableness of sit
y with MS back to the locomotive,
u ! cont mind that a bit," said he
z Nslaes it's more dangerous.
3 aoaishment.
~ les haven't you noticed that in tn
NJ afs.s they always make up the berth
81 = 'ae ieet to the Locomotives? That
!. n .suse II there's sudden jerk you ar
8, s.; ssa forward. Now. if your head
!. = 4 II .asl y the forward partition, you prob
81, ssn y IN case Of an accident, have you
~, y. split or break your neck.''
, Sa Il. uen aren't you afraid of sittin
. VII Mvay" asked.
: ess ss;s No. like it."
old, sssan ga to fear that I had got int
1 umpany of lunatic. / kne,
q ,ss Sas an asylum somewhere in th
| 90j uUrnood. This mans looks, pa
b sIIsl, y :, 'As 4 ous ey. % which i
sa. s q ths ismpisli, had the pee,
!, - sassss Shisa ] hsa rsad was chars,